The Latest News from Around the Fellowship:

Moses and the Gods of Egypt, one of the most useful, academically sound, evangelical studies of the book of Exodus, by John Davis, has just been re-issued by BMH Books with an updated cover design. The commentary guides the reader through 340 pages of understandable, in-depth examinations of Exodus. It illuminates the biblical text in light of recent archaeological studies […][...]

Pastor Charlie Barnhill of the Heartland Grace Brethren Church in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, shared with ministers of the North Central Ohio district recently that the Heartland congregation has purchased an 11,000-square-foot former bowling alley for use as a worship and fellowship facility. The church has been meeting in a school for a number of years. The new facility contained 12 […][...]

Every Saturday during the summer some 15-20 skateboarders and bikers gather in the parking lot of the Maranatha Brethren Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, to practice their craft, and to hear a positive spiritual message from Maranatha youth pastor Ron Shank. (Jay Fretz photo) by Paul Hoard Reaching young people with Christ has always been a challenge. But Maranatha Brethren Church […][...]

The two major national conferences of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches will begin meeting within a few weeks. Brethren National Youth Conference, which is organized and sponsored by CE National, will meet on the BIOLA University campus in southern California the dates of Saturday, July 22 through Thursday, July 27, 2006. More than 2,500 teenagers are registered, and this […][...]

With the Lord Homer Miller, 76, passed away May 11, 2006, in Ashland, Ohio, after a struggle with cancer. A graduate of Morrison Cove (PA) High School, Grace College , and Grace Theological Seminary, he pastored Grace Brethren Churches at Lake Odessa, Michigan, and in Ankenytown and Fredericktown, Ohio. In 1962, he became sales manager for the Ashland Tire Corporation […][...]

Tom Avey By Tom Avey, Fellowship Coordinator These are exciting months in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches national office. What do you see in the future of the FGBC? The GrowGoLead2010 passion is that the FGBC will be growing by making disciples of Jesus, each church going on mission, and leading by producing leaders. This vision is built on […][...]

Nelson L. Peters Grace Brethren North American Mission recently announced the appointment of Nelson L. Peters, of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, PA, as the senior advancement officer for GBNAM. Peters will work in the areas of fundraising and donor relations, building and strengthening partnerships for establishing churches throughout North America. His work experience spans a period of 37 […][...]

Events of general interest among Grace Brethren Churches. Details and registration information are available from sponsoring organizations or through www.fgbc.org. July 2-8 – Great Canadian Adventure Teen Week, Vancouver, BC (GBNAM) July 22-27 – BNYC, Biola University (CEN) July 29-August 3 – Celebrate06 National Conference, Indian Wells, CA (FGBC) August 6-12-Canadian Adventure Adult Week (Toronto) August 13[...]

Just as this issue was going to press, word was received of the tragic death by drowning of 17-year-old Jered Pyle, a junior at Worthington Christian High School, affiliated with the Worthington (OH) Grace Brethren Church. This edited piece was written by his football coach, Mike Stanley (featured in the Sept/Oct 2005 FGBC World, see Crusader Football Seeks to ‘Honor […][...]

The following news briefs are from the appropriate year’s July-August issues of The Brethren Missionary Herald magazine. Ten Years Ago[...]

by Ashley Woodworth and Paul Hoard Mark Sharp maintains a strong faith while fighting the effects of Parkinson’s disease.Exhausted, Mark Sharp finally crossed the finish line of the grueling triathlon. Though he came in last for taking almost two hours to complete the race, he was thrilled. Why? Mark Sharp has Parkinson’s disease, and for him, just finishing the event […][...]

By Liz Cutler Gates Ken Lawson readily admits he didn’t intend to spend the greater part of his law enforcement career in the Sexual Assault Unit of the Columbus (Ohio) Division of Police. But after more than a decade, he has found it to be a place where he can help people. “I never expected to stay in the office,” […][...]

The Peninsula Grace Brethren Church of Soldotna, Alaska (Dan Thornton, pastor) this Sunday, June 11, will begin a free three-day seminar by Russ Miller of Creation, Evolution and Science Ministries. Sunday, June 11, the topic at 9:30 AM will be “Facts vs. Biblical Accounts” with “Noah’s Ark and Dinosaurs” at 11 a.m. and “What the Bible Says, Old Earth Dating […][...]

Word has been received from Pastor Jack Brown in Gloucester, Massachusetts, that Dave Warner from the Island Pond, Vermont, Grace Brethren Church (Jake Kocis, pastor) was crushed by a tree late yesterday and went home to be with the Lord. According to a police report, Warner was cutting trees on his property late yesterday and was found at about 6 […][...]

Dr. Jerry Young, standing right, led the recent AGBM “Certification Summit” held at the Grace Brethren Church in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Participants represented the licensure and ordination examining boards from districts around the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. (Jay Fretz photo) Twenty-six members of the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers, representatives of national organizations, and the chairs of t[...]

There is still time to register and participate in either or both of this summer’s adult conferences in the FGBC. DRIVEN06, geared mainly for young adults, will be held June 22-26 on the campus of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The conference theme is “Alert and Oriented,” and it will focus on helping twenty-somethings answer basic questions about their identity […][...]

Donald P. Shoemaker By Pastor Donald P. Shoemaker Grace Community Church of Seal Beach, CA A longer version of this essay was printed in the Long Beach CA Press-Telegram, on March 25, 2006.[...]

A wide array of orthopaedic, Grace College and Seminary, and local leadership people participated in the March 17 groundbreaking ceremonies on the Grace campus. Grace College and Seminary broke ground on March 17 for a community meeting and exhibition center which will also be Grace’s premier venue for intercollegiate athletic contests, chapels, commencements, concerts, and other events. Dr. Ron Manahan, […][...]

More than 30 years ago, a special financial gift was made from Dayton, Ohio, First Grace Brethren Church to help a new church purchase property. That church is now Centerville Grace Brethren Church, pastored by Steve Makofka. At a recent Tri-States District conference, Makofka presented a gift of $5,000 to Tim Nixon to assist in Nixon’s new church plant. Nixon, […][...]

With the Lord Marjorie Foote, known in the Fellowship as a prayer warrior and as the mother of Pastor Robert Foote of the Huber Heights Grace Community Church in Ohio, passed away in her sleep during the early morning hours Thursday, March 23, 2006, at her home in Winona Lake, IN. Services were held at the Winona Lake Grace Brethren […][...]